10 Reasons Why Dolphins Are Undeniably Awesome

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In case you haven’t heard, dolphins are awesome. Sure, we come from different worlds and all, but our ocean-going mammalian counterparts possess many admirable qualities and characteristics that endear them to us like few other species on Earth.

1. They Like Dogs

While some animals might consider our beloved canine companions to be clumsy, tail-wagging mounds of hair and drool (I’m looking at you, cats), dogs really are like furry gatekeepers to the human heart. It’s no wonder then, after learning of the amazing camaraderie shared between a white labrador and a wild dolphin in Ireland, you just might start to look upon those majestic aquatic mammals as a friend of a friend.

2. They Invent Games to Play With Whales

In recent years off the coast of Hawaii, biologists have recorded several incidents of what appears to be wild humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins mutually engaging in playful roughhousing. This rare interspecies play consists of a game wherein the whale hoists the dolphin out of the water, sending the rider happily tumbling down its back. That’s right, dolphins have convinced whales to be their Slip ‘n Slide.

3. They’re Not Afraid to Ask for Help

Being smart is one thing, but it takes wisdom to know when to ask for help. While in the waters off the coast of Hawaii recently, a group of divers were approached by a wild dolphin that was having trouble swimming. As it turns out, the dolphin was tangled in fishing line was looking for a helping hand — and its persistance paid off. Incredibly, the entire incident of dolphin-human solidarity was captured on film.

The development of the blowhole was an essential part of dolphin evolution, allowing the sea-faring mammals to quickly inhale and exhale air at ocean’s surface while keeping an eye out for predators and prey in the water below. Oh, and apparently it’s really handy for blowing rings too.

8. They Work With Fishermen to Catch Fish

Along a stretch of coastline in Laguna, Brazil, local fishermen and dolphins have formed a partnership in the pursuit of a meal. Researchers, who published a study on this unique behavior, describe how the unlikely allies work as a team to wrangle fish: “Through highly synchronized behavior with humans, cooperative dolphins in Laguna drive mullet schools towards a line of fishermen and ‘signal,’ via stereotyped head slaps or tail slaps, when and where fishermen should throw their nets.”

While we might have a lot to learn about the intricacies of dolphin emotions, it seems pretty clear when they’re having a good time as they leap through the air with utmost precision, or engage in artful displays of underwater acrobatics. Sure, humans and dolphins come from completely different worlds, but there’s nothing quite as unifying as the shared joy of being alive.